TY Tang insists he is focusing on work on the sidelines and not a comeback. Dante Peralta

TY Tang showed flashes of his old self and nailed with what could have been game-winning baskets.

Too bad for new team Go for Gold, there won’t be a next time.

The 5-foot-7 Tang revealed the D-League appearnace was a one-off and was set up by a deal between him and head coach Charles Tiu as they looked for a replacement for Kent Salado, who reinjured his right knee in their season opener.

“Charles has to look for one (replacement). Naka-one game contract lang ako. Extended minutes na nga eh,” said Tang with a chuckle.

“It’s just one game talaga for me. We're still looking for a replacement for Kent kasi right now. Hopefully we get somebody in replacement of him, para we can continue on with our campaign for this conference,” he stressed.

Tang made two pressure-packed free throws with 16.6 seconds remaining to give the Scratchers the lead, 103-102, over Jose Rizal University.

But Paolo Pontejos came up with the game-winning layup.

In the ensuing play, Tang was forced to take an awkward heave from behind the arc that hit only the backboard.

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The 33-year-old Benilde head coach said it felt good to play competitive basketball for the first time since retiring three years ago.

"I feel good, okay naman. Although siyempre I think I'm still... I'm at a loss at times in terms of my rhythm. Wala akong feel ng game because it's been a long time," he said.

"I don't really play much, even pick-up games, hindi talaga. More of papawis lang. So this is my first competitive game after I don't know when, tagal na 'yung last."

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After his PBA stint, Tang suited up for Mighty Sports the following year but his role was actually limited to coaching.

"Hindi masyado kasi yung Mighty, may imports kami. And then normally, we get players na medyo who are at their peak or at least, still playing," he said.

"Parang ano lang ako doon, they just put me in the roster but hindi talaga, more of coaching, and trying to help out si coach Charles at the time. So ayun, okay naman. Sayang."

After setting up plays for Go for Gold and dishing out three assists in the process, Tang can now literally go back to the drawing board.